Ohio voters, the target of unprecedented political advertising in the race for governor, are nearly split ontheir choice for the state's next leader, a new poll commissioned by the Ohio Newspaper Organization shows. (Read full poll results in PDF form.)

The poll also shows Strickland has picked up momentum, gaining ground compared to earlier voter surveys, attributed in part to latent enthusiasm among Democratic voters.

Republican candidates here and nationwide have benefited from stronger party enthusiasm in this mid-term election, which is seen as a referendum on the economy and incumbents. But the new newspaper poll suggests that the enthusiasm gap between the two parties' voters is shrinking.

"There's certainly an uptick in excitement on the Democratic side, which has allowed the race to become more competitive," said Eric Rademacher, co-director of the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati, which conducted the survey for eight large-city Ohio newspapers, including The Plain Dealer.

In the race for Ohio's open U.S. Senate seat, however, the trend isn't helping Democrat Lee Fisher, the state's lieutenant governor and former attorney general. Republican Rob Portman, a former congressman from Cincinnati and top adviser to President George W. Bush, leads Fisher 58 percent to 39 percent. Portman's dominance in the poll parallels his massive fund-raising advantage, which has left Fisher unable to answer millions of dollars of advertising attacks.

Unlike their counterparts in the Senate race, Kasich and Strickland have each raised enough money to engage in a spirited campaign, especially with television and mail advertising, through Nov. 2. Combined, the gubernatorial candidates have raised a record $34.5 million.

Issues play out in advertising

Toledoan Heather Elliott, who participated in the newspaper poll and agreed to be interviewed, said the ads have helped her make up her mind to support Strickland.

"I kind of like everything that he stands for," said Elliott, 41, a billing clerk in a medical office and the mother of two teenagers. "I think he's going to do what we need, and I just have a good feeling about him."

While Strickland has run ads touting his own accomplishments, much of his firepower has been used attacking Kasich, particularly for his ties to Wall Street. These have also influenced voters such as Elliott.

"A lot of the [Strickland] commercials I have seen, maybe fair or unfair, they have swayed me against him," she said.

In his ads, Kasich touts his conservative fiscal credentials while attacking Strickland as a failed leader, citing the state's job losses. These have appealed to voters such as Jim Haboustak, 65, of South Euclid, who says the Kasich has the right approach on the economy.

"I think taxes are too high and I think the whole state is overregulated and I think it's partly contributing to driving away businesses," said Haboustak, a retired metallurgical engineer. "I think we're due for a change. I don't appreciate Ted Strickland's policies."

Gwen Frisby, 29, a homemaker in Sidney, Ohio, near Dayton, said she plans to vote for Strickland because of the negative tone of the Republican ads against him.

"I think he's done probably as good as anybody can do in these times," Frisby said. "It's almost more that I don't like how the Republicans are acting toward him, like it's his fault that we're in this mess."

She said Ohio relies heavily on manufacturing and when the economy dips, so does employment. Laying the blame on Strickland for the loss of nearly 400,000 jobs since he took office in 2007, as Kasich does, is "inflammatory and misleading," Frisby said.

The newspaper group poll, which surveyed 839 likely voters by home phone and cell phone Oct. 14-18, mirrors some polls while contradicting others, reflecting a volatile electorate.

A survey by CNN/Time/Opinion Research Corp. on Oct. 20 put Strickland on top, 48-47 percent. One day earlier, a Quinnipiac University poll showed Kasich ahead, 51-41.

The Ohio Poll of Oct. 15 -- conducted by the same institute that conducted the Ohio Newspaper Poll -- showed Kasich's lead at 51-43.

The Ohio Newspaper Poll conducted in late September showed Mr. Kasich up 49-45 percent.

Since that poll, the number of Democrats who described themselves as "extremely interested" increased from 29 percent to 36 percent in October.

In the same period, the number of "extremely interested" Republicans jumped from 40 percent in September to 48 percent in the current poll.

While the poll shows some momentum for Strickland, other dynamics in the poll favor Kasich. Among voters who don't think they'll change their mind, Kasich leads 52 percent to 48 percent. Voter opinions about the economy and taxation reflect national sentiment and favor Kasich, who is known for having helped balance the federal budget in 1997 as chairman of the U.S. House Budget Committee.

They also reflected a frequent message of Kasich's: that Strickland is more likely to raise taxes.

Fred Millington II of Westerville, near Columbus, wants Kasich to win because he wants a lower-profile government.

"He's talking about maybe repealing the state income tax. I like the thought of that," said Millington, 43, who works for a plumbing supply company. "He is financially a conservative guy. He wants smaller government and he wants less intrusion in my life."

He said he views Strickland as "definitely pro-government" and more prone than Kasich to waste money on projects he doesn't support, such as the proposed high-speed train from Cincinnati to Cleveland.

Voters think Strickland's honest, but typical pol

Voters surveyed view Strickland more favorably than Kasich when questioned about honesty and empathy. They said they believe Strickland better "understands the economic problems people in Ohio are having," is more honest and truthful and is more willing to take a stand even if it's unpopular.

And yet, given respondents' positive impressions of Strickland's qualities, they also consider himmore of a "typical politician" than Kasich, 51 percent to 30 percent. Kasich, who spent 18 years in Congress, has been out of elective office for about a decade.

Voters viewed them equally on the question of which one "shares my values."

Kasich's strongest support is in Southwest, Central and Northwest Ohio, boosted by state's Republican base in the Southwest.

Strickland finds his support in the heavily Democratic Northeast and the economically hard-hit Southeast, which he served as a member of Congress before his election as governor in 2006.

Menprefer Kasich, 53 percent to 43 percent; women lean toward Strickland, 50 percent to 45 percent. But women provide an opening for both candidates because they are more likely to be swayed before the election, the poll shows.

Strickland was supported by 88 percent of African Americans and 43 percent of whites, while Kasich received 10 percent of the black vote and 52 percent of white respondents.

Kasich won the support of the wealthiest voters surveyed, those earning more than $60,000, while Strickland had the backing of voters in all other income brackets.

The oldest and youngest voters side with Strickland, while those between 30 to 64 leaned toward Kasich.

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